I agree fully with Resolved: To Go Easy on the Resolutions by Lisa Belkin in today's New York Times. Obsessing over the details and wanting to control everything can be a recipe for failure. Maybe a better way to describe it is overreaching.

Let me pick just one sentence out of Paul's piece "Don’t worry if a project doesn’t seem to be on the path to some goal you’re supposed to have. Paths can bend a lot more than you think. So let the path grow out the project."

December 30, 2006

Want to show your sense of style, original taste, culture, worldliness, dislikes or just looking for attention, Canadian company T-List lets you customize T-shirts that lists your favorite or least liked things and people. Pick between Top 5 or T-List and you are on your way to designing your own fashion statement.I used their sample for 'likes-dislikes' as an illustration.I think it would be neat if after you pick your choices and before you buy they allowed you to see what your shirt will look like, so you can do a final edit.

A poster by Jean-Pierre Got, a Bordeaux (France) based illustrator, that I got recently with his Christmas Wishes is a good way to answer.

Here is how Jean-Pierre describes it:"A poster exhibition scheduled in 2008 will pay a special tribute to American wineries and vineyards :
"Le troc" ("Barter") was designed in the style of "les images d'Epinal" those very popular wood-engraving prints sold by peddlers throughout France in the early nineteenth century."

As you might remember, The prize I Offered for 'Menu for Hope' was a generous gift from Jean-Pierre Got, a signed pastel by the artist.

As a footnote this global fundraiser started by our friend Pim, brought in close to $59,000.00.

December 26, 2006

Planning a week away to kick off the year and love authentic music and dance, look no further than this program. Explore the world of Flamenco at the Festival Flamenco 2007 in Nimes(southern France) from January 22 to 27.

Read the details of the program and its highlights courtesy of De Flamenco.

December 24, 2006

Just wanted to wish a Happy Holiday to those of you who celebrate Christmas.Everyone else can at least relish a long week-end.As for myself, I will soon have to put my concierge hat on and go help clients so their Christmas Eve party runs smoothly and they can enjoy their guests while we keep things tidy.

I will take a break from blogging tomorrow and will be back with new stories on Tuesday.

Feel free to send me snapshots of your holiday from wherever in the world you are. I will publish the Top 5 sometimes next week.

December 22, 2006

Last Call as my friend Ryan the Bartender (not the Barbarian) famous for making the Best Shirley Temple in New Jersey says. Let's get serious now, the last call in question is for our Global Fundraiser named 'Menu for Hope'.

By 6:00 pm (Pacific Time) today Friday, the bidding for all the wonderful prizes will be over.As I write this more than $50,000.00 have been raised so help us make it say $60,000.00.

Check my Original Post with my prize for more details, pick your prize, feel free to bid on more than one.

I found out about the restaurant Meric through my participation in Menu for Hope.If you travel to Southeast Asia, Meric is located at the Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap (Cambodia)near the famous Angkor Wat. The restaurant is named after a Cambodian pepper.The team of Australian Chef Paul Hutt and French Chef Joannes Riviere offer both a Khmer Menu and a 'Mainstream Menu'.The Khmer Menu includes such delicacies as Grilled Stuffed Frog.Joannes Riviere comes from a family from the Lyon region with a long culinary tradition. He has been living in Cambodia since 2002 and immersed himself in the local culture and traditions.

He is credited with having written 'La cuisine du Cambodge...' one of only 3 books on Khmer cuisine. It has only a French edition I believe (cover used here as an illustration).

You can win a 7 course Khmer dinner at the restaurant by bidding for Gift Code AP17 in Menu for Hope.